Grading machine



July 9, 1940. N BRETHQLTZ 2,207,237

GRADING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 I02 I05 IOJa INVENTOR ATTORN EY July 9, 1940.

N. BRETHOLTZ GRADING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1934 6 Sh eets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 'July 9, 1940. N BRETHOLTZ 2,207,237 GRADING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY July 9, 1940. BRETHQLTZ 2,207,237

GRADING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I47 I44 I50 //42 I V INVENTOR /7a%.- 6102615 BY ATTORNEY y 9, 1940- N. BRETHOLTZ 07,237

GRADING MACHINE Filed March 9. 1934 6 Sheets-Sheetfi INVENTOR m ATTORNEY y 1940. N. BRETHOLTZ 2,207,237

GRADING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR BY W04 I ATTORNEY Patented July 9, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,207,237 GRADING MACHINE Nathan-Bretholtz Worcester, Mass, assignor to Bretholtz' Manufacturing Company, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 9, 1934, Serial No. 714,834

.52 Claims. (01. 33-148) This invention relates to leather grading machines and more especially to an improvement on the Nichols type of grading machine illustrated in the Nichols Reissue Patent 12,288 and in the later Nichols Patent 1,130,321. More particularly, my invention relates to an improvement in the edge gradingof solesfor other died'out parts such as contemplated. by Nichols in Patent No. 841,809 issued January 22, 1907, and in his later Patent 1,009,988..

In the grading of leather soles, which will be referred to preferably as exemplifying or representing a typical died 'out' piece which is to be graded, it is desirable to obtain a final indication of the thickness of the thinnest edgeportion of the sole. The grading of the soles in this man-- ner is important because it is the edge of the sole which is determining in the specificationof commercial thickness of the sole, and it is the edge of the sole which is gauged by hand to verify machine grading. f

In the prior art as represented by the Nichols reissue and by the later Nichols Patent 1,130,321,

it was customary to pass a sole between a pair of feeler rolls, one of the rolls being movable in accordance with the varying thickness or .thinness of the sole, whereby to setor control a pawl and ratchet mechanism so as to measure the thinness of the sole, a further mechanism'being utilized to lock the measuring indicatorlin its final minimum thickness indicating position, just before the sole passed out of the machine. The machine as developed by Nichols and his assignees, I have found to be insuiiiciently sensitive, so that the grading done thereby is faulty. For instance, the Nichols rolls, because of their relatively great length, I have found to be unable to follow pockets in a sole, and unable to detect relatively thin edge portions, .so that the final measurement obtained is, to a considerable .ex-

tent, unreliable.

Because of this unreliability, it is necessary for the sole grader to set-the machines to grade soles at grades lower than actual, or to use check up men who arrange groups of the' soles on end, once they have been graded and evened, and pick out of the groups those soles which have relatively thin spots which have been missed by the grading machines. Naturally, this creates con-' siderable expense, and where soles are shipped to customers by manufacturers'and are found to be of less thickness than specified by order,

there is considerable loss of good will.

Before the development of the Nichols machine just described, therewasdeveloped in the art, an

vices in contact with the soles.

. edge grader shown in Patent 841,809 where relatively narrow grading rolls were used, those rolls being mounted for-vertical movement, and also for lateral movement, and guided by feeler de- Therefore, in Nichols, the gradingrolls were adapted to follow more or less the contour'of the soles. However, as will. be readily appreciated, a sole or any other die cut body naturally has curves, and the radius of curvature of the curves being relatively great in relation to the line of travel of the soles, the measuring rolls in moving laterally developed considerable friction against the leather surface of the soles so that there was a binding action, and a great many errors crept in. For instance, it will be readily appreciated thatwith a sole moving" longitudinally through the Nichols machine of Patent 841,809, when a'point of relatively great increase of curvature or decrease of curvature is reached, there will be a relatively'rapid movement of the detecting rolls directly at right angles to the direction of travel of the sole, There would, therefore, be a tremendous amount of friction set up which would probably affect the reading. In reality, the' rolls did not follow the sole contour-because they could move'only at right'angles to the travel of the sole and not in line with the particular curvature of the part of "the sole then in contact with the .rolls. This, defect is inherent in any'machine in which the anism on which they are mounted.

It will readilybe'appreciated also, that in the Nichols machine, unless the grading. rolls were extremely wide so as to be insufiiciently sensitive to measure the edges of the soles, they would run off the soles at sharp changes in curvature.

In view of all these difficulties the Nichols patented device was never a commercial success and was abandone'din favor of the'edge grader illustrated in Patent 1,009,988 where a balanced plate was used, the plate being hollowed'out so as to be affected only by the edges of the soles and to operate the indicating mechanism by a tipping movement which in itself was extremely undesirable. This type of edge grader was never commercially successful, and along with the roll edge grader, was abandoned for the present long roll type first described, and which is not capable of edge grading. A patent to Denne, No. 1,651,588, also-attacks the problem of edge grading. In Denne, the measuring rolls are mounted for vertical-movement on swinging arms. While, therefore, Denne will have a somewhat better action than'the action of the earlier devices'in this art, yet he does not obtain true edge grading because his roll moves bodily with the measurin arms and will not give the results obtained from my contribution to this art, as will be explained presently.

In order to devise an edge contour grading machine, and yet avoid the difficulties inherent in the prior art constructions discussed above, I mount my measuring rolls for rotation on a pair of follower measuring arms which are pivotally mounted on the machine frame and have guide means in contact with the edges of the sole for guiding the arms on their pivots as the curva.

ture of the sole in contact with the guiding means changes. The measuring rolls are mounted for vertical movement relatively to the measuring arms and are adapted to actuate the measuring devices.

The measuring rolls, in order to follow perfectly the contour of the soles, I have found should not be mounted in fixed relation to the pivoting arms. I have found also that the rolls should not be mounted for swivelling on a vertical bearing in dead center relation to their point of contact with the soles, since then it would not be possible for the rolls to follow the contours perfectly, and there would be at least some of the defects of the prior art present. I mount my measuring rolls as casters whose axis of rotation is offset relatively to their point of contact with the soles. The measuring rolls therefore have a caster effect relatively to the soles so that as the rolls move bodily with their pivot shafts and measuring arms, as induced by the contact'of the measuring arm guides with the soles, the rolls will also swivel ontheir pivot shafts to conform to the actual contour of the soles. In this way,

the rolls may be made just as narrow and as sensitive as desired, and may be mounted to follow the sole edge in any relation thereto that may be desired, and regardless of the feeding speed.

Preferably I mount my rolls so that their centers lie directly on the edge of a sole traversing the machine so that when the sole inclines down from its edge it will nevertheles be the sole edge which will lie under the roll center, and which will control. I have also a further feature incorporated in my machine whereby the measuring rolls will be rendered even more sensitive in measuring the edge thickness of the soles. I mount the measuring rolls so that should the sole incline upwards from its edge, the roll will align itself with that'inclined surface so that its center measuring portion will be in contacting position with the sole, rather than only its inside edge. Preferably, the detailed construction whereby the measuring roll is so mounted, 6-1 bodies a self aligning ball bearing which not only allows for free rotation of each roll, but allows each roll to tilt on its bearing as will be quite clear to those skilled in the art.

In order to insure the proper initial positioning of the measuring rolls relatively to the soles, I provide means which are engaged by the soles upon entering the machine for lifting the measuring rolls a predetermined distance which I prefer shall be substantially equal to the thickness of the soles contacting the actuating means. I then provide further means contacted by the soles as they enter further into the machine for releasing the measuring rolls'for movement into contact with the soles. This is a very important arrangement and differs substantially from the prior art in'which the soles actually force the measuring rolls apart by direct contact, or where the measuring rolls are moved by the mechanism feeding the soles into the machine automatically.

It is a further object of my invention to so mount the measuring arms and the measuring rolls that the rolls will not be urged by tremendous pressure into a sole contacting position, but will, rather, be lightly urged against the soles so as not to compress the same, and yet, with no loss of accuracy.

In the type of grading machine with which my invention is concerned, it is customary to have an indicating mechanism which is spring pressed in a direction to follow the movements of the measuring rolls as they move to indicate increasing thickness, the indicator being positively moved, however, by the measuring rolls in a direction to indicate decreasing thickness, or, to better state the operation, increasing thinness. Also, it is customary to provide pawl and ratchet mechanism so that during the measuring of the soles, once a particular indication of thickness is obtained, only variations in a direction indicating greater thinness or decreased thickness is allowed. Thus, as the rolls move in a direction to indicate greater thinness, the indicator will be moved positively, but should the rolls move in a direction to indicate increasing thickness, the pawl and ratchet mechanism will prevent a like movement of the ratchet. Since the spring mechanism tending to move the indicator in a direction to indicate increasing thickness has a certain amount of inertia which must be overcome by the rolls in moving the indicator in a reverse direction, and since no thickness indication greater than the first indication is of any value, I provide means forrelieving the indicator from this spring tension once an indication of thickness is transferred to the indicator, so that thereafter there will be no spring tension urging the indicator into a thickness indicating direction,'and so that the thinness movement of the indicator will then not be resisted in any substantial manner. This is an important feature in the smooth and accurate operation of my mechanism. Incidentally, I prefer to operate this spring tension device simultaneously with the operation of the thinness measuring pawl I shall discuss later.

My invention also relates to certain means provided to control the initial actuation of the caster measuring rolls. It will be readily appreciated that as a sole enters the machine, and comes in contact with the caster rolls, it will tend to strike those caster rolls and swing them to one side in a rather abrupt fashion, and if the sole is slightly bent on one of its edges, it may even contact the sides of the caster rolls, sweep them aside, and thus render them inoperative. Therefore, I provide a locking arm which is adapted to drop in back of the caster measuring rolls just as the sole enters themachine, whereby to lock the caster rolls against movement relatively to the measuring arms until the sole has advanced just beyond the rolls, but at the same time allowing the arms with all their parts to move out and follow the sole contour. Preferably, I provide these locking means and arrange them to be operated simultaneously with the operation whereby the measuring rolls are lifted to an extent substantially the thickness of the sole. I also release the rolls simultaneously with the release of the rolls into a downward measuring position, so that they may swivel freely thereafter to follow the sole contour.

T ll

soles.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a modification for measuring square heeled I utilize in this modification, the measuring roll locking means to swing to one side the measuring arms so as to permit the sole to enter between the arms.

As I have already indicated, I use the pressure of the sole itself against the rolls to force the arms carrying the measuring rolls into an upward position, transmitting to the measuring rolls a movement substantially equal to the thickness of the sole. I also provide additional'me'ans for releasing the rolls for movement downward into measuring position, which are also actuated by the sole as it further passes through the machine. In addition, I also operate the other controls for the machine by the sole per se. Thus, I provide a further roll which is moved by the sole in passthe initial rolls of the machine. the wide portionof the sole or the portion curing through the machine for moving the holding pawl of the thinness measuring ratchet into cooperation with that ratchet. I also provide a gate which is actuated by one sole into a position to prevent the entering of a second sole into the machine. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the means for moving the pawl into the thinness measuring ratchet, are integral with the means for moving the gate into a lower po- 'sition for locking out further soles. I then provide additional mechanism which is operated to drop, upon the passing of the sole through the machine, this additional mechanism being adapted to lock the holding pawl into the final indicating ratchet. In this way, I overcome the necessity of providing gears or timing mechanisms since the sole is a perfecttimer in itself of the operating mechanism in the machine.

Also, the sole operated mechanism operates practically all the controls in both their forward and reverse movements. Thus the roll that actuates the gate also releases it, and the thinness pawl is similarly operated in and out of holding position by the upward and downward movement of a sole controlled roll. It is this in and out control of the various means, by the insertionof the sole between the various control rolls, and

by the outward movement of the sole relatively to the control rolls, that is exceedingly important in the operation of the machine.

The guide or sole positioning device which centers the sole relatively to the machine so that it may be properly admitted into the same, forms an important part of my invention. Preferably, this centering device embodies a relatively fixed member or guide against which the initial end of the sole entering the machine, that is the heel portion, is forced by spring pressed arms. This relatively fixed guide will naturally insure the proper positioning of the sole as it enters However, when responding to the ball of the foot, comes opposite the relatively fixed guide, it will be understood that the sole will have been thoroughly grasped and held by the rolls of the machine,

and I therefore provide means whereby the relatively fixed guide may be moved to one side to permit the sole to enter freely into the machine. Thus, the relatively fixed member is really held in a so-called fixed position by a very powerful erator to first read the indicator, then focus his eyes on the bin to determine into which compartment the sole should be thrown, and then move his eyes back to the machine. Because of this necessity for the movement of the eyes back and forth at high speed, and because the average operator is required to do about 12,000 soles a day,'a considerable amount of error creeps into the sorting operation. It is an object of my device to arrange for a signalling system operated by the machine whereby this movement of the eyes of the operator will not be necessary, and whereby the operator will have only to keep his eyes on the bin of the machine and never on the indicator.

I therefore provide with my invention a bin having a series of sole holding compartments adapted for different sizes of soles. In front of each compartment I place an electric filament bulb which is so interconnected with an electrical circuit through the machine that when the final measurements of a sole is reached, the filament will be rendered incandescent in the bin compartment corresponding to the particular measurement. I also arrange for a condenser in the circuits of the lighting filaments so that after the circuit through a particular bulb has been made and then re-opened for the measuring of a second sole, the condenser will function so that the light will remain on for an interval sufficient to focus the operators attention thereon. Preferably, in detail, I utilize a series of contact points opposite the ratchet teeth of the indicator locking ratchet. The pawl of the indicator locking ratchet carries a spring contact adapted to make contact with the ratchet contacts and to close a circuit through one of the contacts and then through a particular bin compartment filament when the locking pawl is urged into locking relation with the indicator locking ratchet. Incidentally, where I employ my electrical system I arrange to release the final as well as the thinness measuring pawl from locking position as a measured sole leaves the machine. Otherwise I release each one independently by the soles.

While I have thus explained several objects of my invention, it will; be understood that ,a further detailed description of the invention will indicate considerably more points of importance and to which my patent monopoly should extend. Also, it should be understood that practically any of the features which I have disclosed in particular may probably be readily modified or changed in many'ways, perhaps to give even better results, or to give results equally as good as those inherent in my machine. Therefore, while I have shown a particular efficient embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that I consider my invention to be of relatively broad scope in this particular art, especially insofar as it pertains to the mounting and operation of the measuring rolls, the control of the various devices in the machine by the sole in an in and out direction, the arrangement of the measuring ratchets, and the provision of the signaling system, and I feel myself entitled to a relatively broad monopoly under the patent law.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an elevation of my machine and illustrates the power means for driving the feed rolls of the devices. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation and partial section of the machine taken centrally through the machine. Fig. 3 is a sectional view through one of the measuring rolls and its mounting means. Fig. 4 is a top view of the machine taken substantally along the lines ll of Fig. 2 and illustrates particularly the guide mechanism and the operation of the measuring arms on their pivots. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing more specifically the operation of the guiding means for guiding the soles into the feed rolls. Fig. 6 is a partial view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in less detail and illustrating the operation of the means for elevating the measuring arms just prior to the movement of a blank under the measuring rolls. Fig. '7 is a view showing some of the parts of Fig. 2 wher by the moving blanks control the entrance gate, the indicating lever tensioning means and the thinness measuring pawl. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a measuring roll and the measuring arm guiding means. Fig. 9 is a view taken along lines 3-9 of Fig. 8. Figs. 10, l1 and 12 illustrate the positions that may be as sumed by the measuring rolls relatively to a mov ing blank and depending upon the configuration of the edge of the moving blank.

13 illustrates the position of the measuring rolls relatively to a moving blank and shows just how the measuring rolls adapt themselves to the curvature of the moving blank. Fig. 14 illustrates the cooperation of the final locking pawl with its ratchet, in the modification where in the final locking pawl is adapted to close the circuit through an indicator in the bin with which the grading machine cooperates. Fig. 15 illustrates the electrical circuit involved, while Fig. 16, illustrates a bin which, is used in my invention. Fig. 17 is a top view of the controlling ratchets for the indicating lever and shows the operation of the pawl mechanism cooperating with the ratchets. Figs. 18 and 19 are views of the final locking pawl and ratchet in their two possible positions. Figs. 20 and 21 illustrate the operation of the means for controlling the final locking pawl and ratchet and show the control means in the positions they will occupy when th locking pawl is in. positions I 3 and 19. Fig. 22 illustrates a square heeled sole, while 23 illustrates the modification whereby the arms are swung aside to accommodate a square heeled sole.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral It indicates a main side plate of the machine, there being a side plate at each side of the machine. An electric motor ll operates through a belt iii, a pulley 53, which in turn operates through a chain belt i i, a gear l5 having thereon a smaller gear 53 which through chain belts ll and i8 drives gears I3, 23 and H secured to the driving rolls i9, 23 and 24.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9, reference numeral 22 indicates a measuring arm. There are two of such measuring arms in my machine, each of which is a duplicate of the other except that it is reversed in its operation relatively to a moving blank. For the sake of clearness I shall refer to one arm and its attendant mechanism, throughout the description, it being understood, of course, that there are two arms, each operating in the same manner. The arm 22 is mounted by means of a pivot shaft 23 on an integral block 24 extending from the frame of the machine, and is adapted to pivot on the shaft 23, being spring pressed, however, by a spring 25 toward a central position in the machine as determined by a stop member 26 integral with the arm and cooperating with an adjustable stop screw member 21 (Fig. 4).

There is secured to the arm 22, as by bolts 28 illustrated in Fig. 2, a downwardly extending arm 29 which terminates in a guide foot portion 30 as is best shown in Figs. 6 and 8. This guide foot 30 is adapted to impinge against a blank moving through the machine so as to cause the arm 33, against the pressure of spring 25, to follow the contour of the particular blank moving through the machine.

I'here is pivoted on the arm 22, at point 32, a lever 3 I, which lever is further pivoted by means of pivot shaft 33 as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, to a vertical arm 34, this arm having ball bearings at 35 and 36 whereby its pivotal relation to the shaft 33 and lever 32 is free from frictional resistance and allows for free pivotal movement about the axis 33. This vertical member 36 carries at its lower end, and by means of the ball bearing 31, and shaft 31a, the rotating bearing portion 38 of a caster measuring roll 39, which in turn is mounted on self aligning ball bearing 40 about the shaft ll carried by the rotating member 38. As shown better in Fig. 8, the rotating caster member 38 carries a pin 42 adapted to impinge against a limit member '33 carried integrally with the vertical member 3 so as to limit the rotation of the caster member 38 as induced by a spring 44 mounted between the caster member 38 and the vertical guide foot or flange member 30.

It is readily seen, by glancing at Figs. 2 and 6 especially, thatthe verticalbearing 31 about which the caster member 38 is free to rotate, is offest relatively to the point of contact of the measuring wheel 39 with a blank moving through the machine, so that there will be a caster effect created as between the measuring wheel 39 and the blank, this being utilized as will be indicated more particularly hereinafter.

The vertical member 3 3, in addition to being pivotally supported relatively to the shaft 33 by its ball bearings 35 and 36, is also connected pivotally as through the shaft :35 and ball bearing 45, with the measuring lever 47, which in turn is connected pivotally as through a ball bearing 48, with the measuring arm 22. It will be readily observed that any vertical movement of the member 34, because of its pivotal relation to the lever 3! and the measuring lever 41, will be with the member 34 maintained substantially perpendicularly to the sole as determined by the particular parallelogram arrangement. Actually,

the member 34 is maintained always in a fixed angular position so as to maintain the swivelling axis of the measuring roll perpendicular to the end of the lever 4! will also move proportionally to the thickness of the sole to actuate the indicating mechanism.

In order to stabilize the arm 34 and maintain it in a downward position and therefore maintain the roll 3:; against a moving blank, I prefer to utilize a rod 58 secured at 5| to the arm 3| and adapted to be pressed by the spring 52 so as to transmit a counterclockwise rotation to the lever 3! about its pivot 32 on the arm 22, and

thus tend to force the measuring roll 39 against a moving blank. The spring tension of the spring 52 is relatively light, and will be such as to permit the roll to press but very lightly against the sole, it being entirely unnecessary for the roll 39 to act as a compressing agent for the sole, the sole being maintained in a depressed and flat position by feed and controllingrolls which will be I described hereinafter, and by a pressure stationary plate 520. cooperating with a fixed plate 52d;

and between which the sole is moved. A bottom plate 52b is used as a base measuring plate and At this point it is carried by roll 520 (Fig. 2). should be indicated that the bottom plate 521) is of such width that regardless of the rotation of the measuring wheel 39 Within the usual limits of sole curvature, the wheel 39 will have as a measuring support therefore this plate 52b.

It will be best at this point to describe briefly the operation and the advantages of the construction of measuring roll 39 and the moving vertical member 3a whereby thickness indications are transmitted to the measuring lever 41. As a blank moves through the machine, it will contact the guiding flange 39 for moving the arm 22 against the pressure of the spring 25 in conformance with the particular contour of the 61' lateral movement were concerned. Naturally,

as the contour eg the sole or blank changed, as is illustrated in Fig. 13, there would be created a distinct frictional rubbing relation between the measuring roll 39 and the blank 55 which would have to be overcome as the measuring roll moved laterally relatively to the blank. Also, at such: points where there might be a relatively great' increase of curvature, and with the measuring roll mounted with its central point directly over the edge of the moving blank, there would be considerable danger of at leasta portion of the measuring'roll being pushed off the blank so that the edge of the blank cooperating with roll 39 would then act to control the movement of the arm 22 relatively to the blank, rather than the guide foot 3D, as is intended. Therefore, with the roll 39 in axial alignment with its bearing, on

the vertical member 34, the operation, while.

perhaps superior to that of the prior art, would be liable to considerable error in many ways,

and would, in general, be considerably less desirable than the preferred embodiment of my invention.

I have also considered using guide members for rotating a measuring roll on its axis, where the axis is central relatively to the measuring roll, the guide members to be actuated by the soie, but this method of operation I have also found to be decidedly inferior to the simple caster action I have disclosed herein.

I have,.as-has already been generally indicated, mounted the measuring rolls 39 in offset or caster relation to their bearings on the member 34, so.

that the, rolls 39 will have a caster effect rela.

tively to the moving blank, this caster effect or.

arrangement being effectiveto guide the rolls 39 in practically perfect alignment with the edge contour and with their exact center'in practically perfect contact with the edge of the moving blank. In this way I avoid the disadvantages indicated supra. The rolls are guided by the sole to follow the sole contounthis guiding being effected throughthe friction between the rolls 39 and the sole and through the guiding movement of the arms 22 through the flanges 39. The offsetting of the axis of the rolls 39 allows them tos'wivel relatively to the arms so as to properly adjust themselvesin the manner of casters relatively to the contour of the sole, as will be readily understood by those skilled in theart. This relation of the measuring rolls relatively to the moving blank, in this case, a sole, is illustrated in Fig. 13 showing the measuring rolls in contact with the blank in several places of different curvature.

My invention involves a furtherinteresting roll were mounted on a usual rigid bearing. As" is shown here, the sole 55 tapers downwardly towards its edges, and the roll 39, because, it is in a rigid bearing relation to its shaft 4|, is unable to assume an angle complementary to the angle of the blank. Its center therefore does not measure the edge thickness, but the thickness just off the edge. This is error. I avoid this rejection by mounting my roll 39 on a self aligning bearingso that it may tilt freely relatively to its shaft 4! and follow the" contour of the edge of the sole as best illustratedin Fig.5 11

where the sole is shown as inclining upwardly from its edge, and as shown in Fig. 12, where the sole declines downwardly from its edge.

, Ina machine of the type with which my in vention is concerned, it is usual to permit the sole itself, to contact the measuring rolls and to elevate those rolls initially and then to maintain them in a thickness indicating position until the sole passes out from under the rolls. In some automatic self feeding machines, means have been provided to raise the rolls, these means being operated by the sole feeding mechanism. It-

. 55' of my invention I provide means whereby the,

was indicated supra, that as one of the features proper initial positioning ofthe measuring rolls 3 member 5'l'which extends substantially horizontal for a relativelyshort distance and then extends vertically for a short distance and then downwardly again terminating at a point 58, and

supporting a pivot shaft 59 adjacent said terminating point 58. On this: pivot shaft 59 there is secured an upright control lever fillwhich is adapted normally to underlie-the extension arms about the shaft 63 supported by the .side plates l 9.

The sleeve member 62 in turn carries a control rod 64 which is adapted to extend horizontally" so as to overlie, at its ends the measuringlevers 6|. of a sleeve member 62 mounted for rotation :70,

47, which it will be recalled are operated by the vertical movement of the measuring rolls 39 through the intermediary of the vertical members 34. The positioning of the sleeve 62 and the rod member 6 3 relatively to a measuring lever l?! is normally such, that when the spring 52 through its rod 5! has urged the measuring rolls downward into a position indicating zero thickness of the blank, the rod 66 will be almost in contact with the lever 41.

Connected to the vertical member 551! by means of pivots 65 are a pair of levers 68 which'in turn are pivoted through shaft El to a bell crank lever 68, itself supporting at 69 a control roll 10, and being pivotally mounted on shaft H supported by control roll 72. A spring 13 normally urges the bell crank lever 68 in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot H on the shaft of the control roll 72 and this movement is adapted to urge the levers 66 into their position in Fig. 2 wherein the vertical member 59 will be positioned just under the horizontal arm 6! of the sleeve 62. The control' roll 12 is itself adapted for rotation on the shaft H, the roll and shaft being in turn rotatable with lever "53a about the stub shafts M carried by the side plates Ill. The control roll 70 rotates, of course, on the shaft E5 as will be readily apparent.

Returning once again to lever member El, I prefer to have this lever spring pressed in a downward direction by the spring 75 maintaining the lever in its position of Fig. 2. Adjacent to the'point where the lever 5? begins to extend upward, I mount a shaft '16 on which rotates the control roll ll, this roll being cut away at its center for the mounting of a further control member on the shaft, which will be described presently. The operation of the various parts just described is as follows.

As a sole or other moving blank 55 passes through the machine, it must enter under the control ,roll 1! and over the feed roll l9. Naturally, since the feed roll is is fixed, the sole 55 will force the control roll 71 in an upward direction, this upward movement being adapted to lift shaft 16 to force the lever member 57 vertically against the pressure of spring 15. This movement is well illustrated in Fig. 6 in which a blank 55 is shown as directly under the control roll H, and with the control roll lifted. This naturally functions through pivot shaft 59 to move the member 60- upward vertically, thus rotating the sleeve member 62 about the shaft 83 and caus- "a position directly under the control roll 70. It

will be quite obvious that when it reaches the control roll I, it will tend to move that roll upwardly against the pressure of the spring 13 exerted on the bell crank lever 68 on which the roll '50 is supported by-pivot shaft 69. This will contribute a clockwise movement of the bell crank lever 68 about its pivot shaft ll tending to move the horizontal levers 66 to the right from the position shown in Fig. 2 and to withdraw the member 69 from under the horizontal arm 6! of the sleeve 62. This, if the parts are positioned as in Fig. 6, will immediately release the sleeve 62 so that. it will permit the measuring levers 41 to move to their position of. Fig. 2 thus dropping the measuring rolls onto the sole or blank for free measuring movement thereafter.

It will be readily understood that by this simple means, operated by the sole itself, I elevate the measuring rolls to a predetermined position, and when the sole has moved sufiiciently under the measuring rolls as required by the particular arrangement of the machine, the sole itself acts to release the rolls for movement downward into proper position.

As was previously indicated, my invention is concerned also with the provision of means to control the initial actuation of the caster measuring wheels. It will be readily appreciated that as a sole or other blank enters the machine, and contacts the caster rolls, it will normally tend to strike those rolls so as to swing them to one side in a rather abrupt manner, the sole being moved at a fairly rapid speed. Also, since the sole may be slightly bent on one of its edges, it may on many occasions contact the side of the caster rolls rather than their bottom surfaces, and throw the rolls aside, thus rendering them inoperative as measuring instruments, while at the same time, using the rolls as guides with which to sweep aside the measuring arms 22. It is therefore necessary to provide means whereby the rolls will be locked in some particular position relatively to the arms 22 so that they cannot be swept to one side by the soles, while at the same time allowing the measuring arms to move freely as de termined by the guide foot flanges 30.

I have provided caster roll controlling means whereby the rolls may be locked momentarily against substantial rotation, relatively to arms 22, these means being operated directly with the means for controlling the lifting of the measming rolls and their releasing movement downward into free measuring position. I secure to the sleeve member 62 a horizontal arm 79 to which is secured in turn a vertical member 80 which in turn is secured at 8! to an arm 82 pivoted to the shaft 51 which it will be recalled is carried by the bell crank member 68. The lever 82 has a horizontally extending member 83 which, when the sleeve 62 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction into the position of Fig. 6, is adapted to be actuated by the horizontal member :79 in a downward direction so as to cooperate with a detent 84 carried by each of the caster bearing members 38.

Naturally, this will lock the casters 38 against movement relatively to the arms 22 until the sole travels into a position to operate the control roll 7!] for releasing the measuring rolls 39 for measuring movement, and also for swiveling movement by the release of the detent members M by the lever 82. In this way, I control both the locking of the caster rolls and their lifting and their releasing and lowering, by the same means.

In Fig. 23 I illustrate a construction used with square end soles. I mount a cam 82a on the member 86, and place cams Bid on the arms 3|. As the member 89] moves downward to lock the rolls, it also spreads the two arms 22 by cooperation of the cam 82a with cams 35 a. This allows a square end sole, such as shown in Fig. 22, to enter the machine. While other methods of spreading the arms 22 may be readily devised, I find the particular construction quite effective. a The indicating mechanism of my machine is of the generally well known type wherein an indicator is allowed to move in a thinness indicating direction as induced by the measuring rolls, under the control of pawl and ratchet mechanism. Just before the sole leaves the measuring rolls, afurtherpawlandratchetmechanism is actuated for locking the indicator in a final position against movement into a zero thickness indicating position. There are, however, certain novel features in the control of my indicating mechanism and in its arrangement,

which I believe are exceedingly sirable in the art.

As previously, I shall describe the control over the indicator by one of the measuring levers 41 although as will be be readily appreciated, it is the lever 41 which attains the greatest movement in a thinness indicating direction which controls the positioning of the indicator itself. The measuring lever 41, as shown in Fig. 2, carries an upstanding cup 85 adapted tohouse a lever and ball member 89 extending downwardly from the shaft 99 of an actuating member pivoted at 9i to a block member 92, which in turn is fastenedin fixed relation to the indicating shaft 93. Through this arrangement, it is quite obvious that movement of the lever 4'! in the direction of arrow 94 shown in Fig. 2, will urge the shaft 93 in a clockwise direction indicating in creasing thinness of the moving blank in contact with the roll 39.

Also, it is apparent that whichever arm 41 moves upward further in the direction of arrow 94 will control the rotation of the shaft 93. Carried on the shaft 93 are a pair of ratchet members 95 and 99 and an indicator 91 (Figs. '7, 1'7, 18, 19).. Ratchet 95 is the thinness indicating ratchet which is adapted to control the indicator 9'! against movement in a direction indicating increasing thickness, once a particular indication of thickness has been obtained. The other ratchet member 9'5 is adapted to lock the indicator in a final position to prevent its movement into zero thickness indicating position. While the ratchets 95 and 99 may be fixed to shaft 93, I prefer that only one of the ratchets, 95, be secured to the shaft 93 while the other, 95, be loosely mounted on the shaft and held firmly against the ratchet 99 for integral movement therewith, by means of a rather strong spring 98 (Fig. 17), there being provided a screw stud 99a. (Fig. 2) adapted to adjust the relationship of the two ratchets to compensate for any errors, as may be necessary. For the purpose of understanding the operation of the invention it may be considered, however, that the two ratchets are fixed to the shaft 93 for integral movement therewith, and so as to be operated together by movement of the measuring arms novel and de- 41, which movement is adapted to rotate the shaft 93 through the intermediary of the crank block members 92.

A spring 99 is secured at one end to a member I99 and at I9I to a lever member I92 which in turn is pivoted on shaft I93a supported by the side members I9. The spring 99 thus tends to rotate the shaft 93 in a counter clockwise or thickness indicating direction whenever it is under tension. The lever member I92 is generally maintained in its position of Fig. 2 exerting tension on spring 99, so that the spring normally tends to rotate the indicator shaft 93 in a counter clockwise direction urging it into a thickness indicating direction and so that it may follow the movement of the measuring levers 41 in a direction opposite the arrow 94.

For controlling the ratchet member 95 I utilize a pawl member I93 which is also mounted on the lever. member I92 as at point I94 and is urged by a spring I95 in a counter clockwise direction into contact with the teeth I96 of the ratchet 95. A pin I91 carried by the lever I92 movement in a thickness indicating direction,

that is, a direction counter-clockwise as shown in Fig. 2. For this purpose, I utilize the control roll I2 as is best illustrated in Fig. '7 This control roll I2 carries on its pivot shaft "H, as has already been indicated, the bell crank lever 68 which in turn supports the pivot shaft 91 which in turn carries the upwardly extending member I98. This member, is in turn connected through a spring I99 with the lever member I92 and is adapted resiliently to control the movement of the lever member I92 through the spring I99 in both a counter clockwise and a clockwise direction, the counter-clockwise movement being limited by a stop I92a carried by member lIlIa secured to shaft I93a. Thus, as a sole or other blank 55 enters under the roll I2, that roll will be rotated with its lever 53a about shaft I9, and will act through member I99 to rotate the lever member I92 in a counter-clockwise direction about its shaft I93a so as to allow the pawl I93 to enter the ratchet teeth I96. Thereafter, it will be impossible for the ratchet lever 95 tomove in a thickness indicating direction, the ratchet being held against this movement by the pawl I93, although it will be free to move clockwise and in a thinness indicating direction as it may be positively urged by the measuring .lever 91 through the vertical shaft 99. As soon as the blank 55 passes from under the control roll I2 it will be obvious that the control roll 12 will drop downwardly and will rotate the lever mem'- ber I 92 in a clockwise direction and will act through stud I91 to throw the pawl I93 back into its position of Fig. 2, thus releasing the ratchet shaft 95..

It will, of course, be necessary at this point to have locked the shaft 93 to which the ratchet member 95 is secured, otherwise, the shaft 93 will rotateas urged by the spring 99 into a position indicating no thickness at all, since at this point,the blank 55 must naturally have passed fromunder the measuring rolls 39 which will then be in their zero thickness position of Fig. 2. Therefore, there is required a further pawl controlling mechanism for controlling the ratchet 96 which is the final locking ratchet and which is locked in a finalposition just before a sole leaves the measuring rolls so as to prevent the shaft 93 and the indicator 91 from moving into a zero thickness indicating position.

Before describing the operation of the final locking. pawl and ratchet I shall indicate the operation of the admission gate, and the means for controlling the tensioning of the spring 99.

As is quite apparent from Fig. 2, the lever I92 the feed roll I9 and the control roll TI. However, when the machine is measuring a sole, that is when the pawl I533 is in contact with the ratchet teeth Hit as shown in Fig. '7, the gate is naturally in a downward position and prevents the admission of a sole into the machine. In this way, I get a positive actuation of the gate in an in and out direction by the roll 1'2, which in turn is positively operated by the sole itself. No timing is necessary for the gate, and its operation is positive in both directions.

There is a further means which is operated by the control roll and the lever I32 in connection with the gate and the pawl I03, which is of considerable importance in the operation of my invention and has already been emphasized. It will be understood that the spring 99 functions only to move the indicator 9? in a thickness indicating direction so as to follow the movement of the arms =3! in a direction opposite the arrow 94 in Fig. 2. Now, once the pawl H33 moves into contact with the ratchet teeth I05, it is impossible for the ratchet bar 95 to move in a thickness indicating direction, and therefore, the spring really ceases to function. However, when the member at is actuated positively by the measuring lever 41 in a thinness indicating direction, the spring pressure of the spring 99 must be overcome, and this creates considerable inertia in the mechanism which in turn leads to inaccuracies in measuring. I, therefore, arrange the mechanism so that at the moment that lever I02 is rotated counter-clockwise the pawl I03 moves into contact with the ratchet teeth IIJB to lock the ratchet member 95 against movement in a direction indicating increasing thickness as urged by the spring 89, I at the same time relieve the tension on the spring 99 as is best illustrated in Fig. '7. Thereafter, the operation of the ratchet member 95 will be entirely positive in a thinness indicating direction corresponding to a clockwise rotation of the shaft 93, and this movement will be free of any resistance by the spring 99 which will be maintained out of tension. It is important to observe that this operation of the gate member II2, the spring tensioning and relieving means, and the locking pawl I03, is all arranged to be controlled by the one roll 12, the roll 12 being moved. positively in its directional movements by the sole and the spring I3.

I shall now describe the operation of the final locking pawl in its cooperation with the ratchet 3 for locking the indicator in its final position just before the sole goes beyond the measuring rolls 39 and into a position where the indicator 9? would normally register zero thickness. It is the function of the final locking pawl in its cooperation with the final locking ratchet to prevent such a zero indication. Just in advance of the measuring roll, there is a depending foot IIE shown particularly in Figs. 20 and 21 and in Fig. 2, this foot being pivoted for movement about the pivot 5 l6 on a block i I! secured to the shaft 16 on which is mounted the control roll 11.

Figs. 2 and illustrate this foot in its fully downward position, which position it occupies when a sole is not in contact therewith, the plate 52a being cut away to permit the foot to drop onto the plate 52d. In Fig. 21 the foot [I5 is shown raised upward slightly as when contacted by a moving blank 55. The foot is so arranged as to move downwardly by gravity and to move upwardly when contacted by the sole. Connected to the foot I i5 is a rod H8 which extends upwardly and is adapted toterminate in a. rod portion traversing an ear I I9 of a block member I20 mounted on the shaft Him (Figs. 2, 17-20). The rod has a shoulder I against which operates the spring I22 and it is through this spring that the rod H8 is adapted to rotate the block I20 about the shaft Nita. A block member I23 pinned .to the shaft I030 is adapted to limit the upper movement or the clockwise rotation of the member I29 about the shaft 13a as will appear quite clearly from a view of Fig. 17.

Mounted on the member I28 is the final looking pawl I2 which is constantly urged in a looking direction by a spring I25 and is controlled by the pin I26 carried by the member I20. It is quite obvious from Figs. 18 and 19 taken together with Figs. 20 and 21, that when the foot member II5 is in its position of Fig. 20, the pawl I25 will be allowed to ride into the teeth I21 of the ratchet member 96 so as to lock the ratchet in final indicating position. On the other hand, when a sole is under the foot I I5, as shown in Fig. 21, the pawl I26 will be maintained out of contact with the ratchet teeth I21 so as to allow the indicator shaft 83 to have free movement in a thinness indicating direction. It will be quite obvious that when the sole moves out from under the foot I I5, which is just before the last portion of its edge is measured by the rolls 39, it will permit the foot IE5 to drop and lock the indicator 9? in a final indicating position through cooperation of the pawl I24 with ratchet teeth I2? as shown in Fig. 18. Thereafter, when the sole passes from under the rolls 39, the indicator will remain in a locked position.

It is interesting to note that because each pawl is separately operated by a sole contacting member, it is inherent in the particular construction that the indicator remain in locked position until a further sole is fed into the machine, whereupon the indicator is released for free movement. Thus, should there be some error in measuring the sole, the operator will not destroy the reading until he has sent a subsequent blank into the machine. Up until that point, however, the reading will be preserved for him.

In Figs. 14, 15 and 17, I have illustrated a modification of the final locking pawl whereby, men it moves into final locking position relatively to the ratchet teeth I21, it is adapted to close an electrical circuit through any one of a series of lights E33 located at a bin 235, each light being indicative of a particular measuring unit. As is shown in Figs. 14 and 15 the pawl I2 i carries a flexible contact I30 which is adapted to contact with one of a series of contacts I3I mounted opposite the teeth I2? in the ratchet member 96. The circuit is from a source of supply as I32 through the flexible contact member I30, any one of the contact members iti, and then through a filament bulb indicator 633 which is in parallel with the condenser I32. The purpose of the condenser is such that should the machine be operated quite quickly, it will serve to maintain the current through the indicator bulb E33 for more than just a mere moment.

Also, it may be desirable in a modification of the invention, to connect the thinness measuring pawl and the final locking pawl so that the releasing of the thinness measuring pawl by the passing of a sole from under the control roll 12, will be effective to release both pawls from holding position. In this type of construction the condenser I3 i will be especially useful. Where, however, the two pawls are separately controlled,

ing rolls adapted to contact a blank to be gauged,

--it--may notbe necessary generally to use the tus of this type, it is only necessary for the operator to feed the blank into the machine, and

then glance at the bin. As soonas the final looking pawl moves into locking position there will be rendered incandescent one of the signal lamps 133, and the operator has merely to take the particular sole just issued from the machine and throw it into the particular compartment indicated by the signal.

I employ also a very novel reversible apparatus for guiding a moving blank into :the machine. This apparatus is especiallyjshown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Reference numeral l33-lepresents a relatively fixed guide member which is spring pressed by a spring I39 as'is shown in Fig. 4, its movement as urged byspring E39 being limited by a stop Hit. It is against this member m8 that a moving blank 55, such as shown in Fig. 5, is adapted to be positioned. The blank is spring urged against the member I38 by a pair of members MI and H12, each of these latter members being pivoted about the shaft M3.

The member MI is spring urged by the spring M 8 as is best illustrated in Fig. 4. The member 442 is spring urged in-an exactly oppositerotational direction by a spring'l45 as is best shown in Fig, 5; Its movement is limited by a pin Hi6 and it has an upstanding portion it? operable in a slot M8. The member 14! has a downward descending portion M9 and is limited in its movement'by a pin H58. These two members Ni and 142 cooperate with the sole as best shown in Fig-{hand urge 'it against the member I38. The springs M5 and M4 are relativelyfweak as compared to spring I39, so that the sole is maintained in fixed relation to the guide until it contacts the feed roll l9 and the control roll 17. Once it is grabbed by these rolls its guide members cease to be of effect, and both the guide 138 and the guides MI and 152 will be swept aside when the wide end 55a of the sole 55 goes past them. By this arrangement, it is quite'easily seen that I have a relatively'fixed guide member which functions as such until the sole isproperly positioned relatively to the machine, after which it may be swept aside to permit free admission of the sole 'manual members l5! andl52, and turning over the entire assembly shown in Figs 2 and 5.

'While I have thus described a, particular modification of my machine, asI have already indicated previously, I consider this invention to be of broad scope, and I do not desire to be limited in the scope of my claims except as may be required by the state of the art.

I now claim: 1. In a machine of the class described, measurmeans supporting said rolls for measuring IIlOVE. ment perpendicularly to theplane of the blank, measuring or indicating means actuated by said rolls in said movement, and means mounting said rolls on said supportingmeans for swivelling on an axis parallel to said measuring movement and oifse-t in the manner of casters whereby they may be swivelled by directional variations relatively to a relatively'moving blankthy maybemeasuring.

2. In amachine of the class described, measuring rolls adapted to contact a blank to be gauged, means supporting said rolls for vertical measur- "ing movement as the thickness of the blank varies, and means mounting said'rolls on said supporting means in the manner of casters for swivelling on a vertical axis offset relatively to the point of contact of said rolls with said blank,

- whereby said rolls may swivel and assume various directional positions as the directional movement of said blank relatively to said rolls is varied.

- 3. In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls adapted to contact a blank to be gauged,

means supportingv said rolls for vertical 'meas- 'uring movement as the thickness of the. blank .varies, means mounting said rolls on said supcasters on a vertical axis offset relativelyto the point of contact of said rolls with said blank, whereby said rolls may swivel and assume various directional positions as the directional movement of said blank relatively to said rolls is varied, and means for varying the directional movement of said blank relatively to said rolls .as the contour of the blank-changes.

4. In a machine of the class described, meas uring rolls adapted to contact a blank .to be gauged, means supporting said rolls for vertical measuring movement as the thickness of the blank varies, means mounting said rolls on said supporting means in the manner of casters on a vertical axis ofiset relatively to the point of contact of said rolls with said blank, whereby said rolls may swivel and assume difierent directional positions relatively to .their supporting meansas the directional relation of the movement of said blank relatively to said rolls is varied, and means whereby. said roll supporting means are moved in accordance with the changing contour of the measured blank to vary the directional relationof said rolls: and said blank.

v5. In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls adapted to contact a blank to be gauged, mounting means mounting said rolls for vertical movement relative to said blank as the thickness of said blank varies, means supporting changes, said lateral movement of the roll mounting means being effective to cause automatic swivelling of the rolls in the manner of casters relatively to said supporting meanswhen said rolls are in contactwith the blank, so as to change the directional positions of said rolls to conform to the particular contour then effecting the movement of said mounting means.

6. In a machine of the class described, meassaid rolls will assume automatically 2. fixed directional position relatively to the supporting means-as a blank is moved linearly relatively to said rolls, means responsive to the contourof the edge periphery of 'the blank for moving said supporting means laterally relatively to, said blank as the blank contour'varie's, said rolls being rotatable as casters relatively to the supporting means by the combination of their linear and lateral movement relatively to the blank whereby to position said rolls in directional alignment with the blank contour.

'7. In a machine of the class described, a pair of swinging arms, measuring rolls mounted for vertical measuring movement relatively to said arms and adapted to receive measuring movement when contacted by a moving blank, means contacting the periphery of the blank for swinging the arms in conformance to the contour of said blank, said rolls being mounted for swivelling movement relatively to said arms, the pivots for said swivels being offset relatively to the contact point of said rolls on the blank, whereby said rolls will have a caster movement so as to follow more accurately the edge contour of said blank.

8. In a machine of the class described, a measuring roll adapted to contact a blank to be measured, a member on which said roll is supported, means whereby said roll is pivoted to said member on an offset vertical axis so that it may swivel relatively to said member in the manner of a caster, said roll being secured for integral movement with said member in a vertical direction as the thickness of the blank varies, a pivoted measuringlever connected to said member for pivotal measuring movement as said member and its roll move vertically, and meansior guiding said member in a path to maintain the swivel axis perpendicular to the plane of the blank whereby to give the true measurement of said blank-regardless of the angular position assumed by said oiiset roll relatively to said member.

9. In a machine of the class described, meas uring roll adapted to contact a blank to be measured, a member on which said roll is supported, means whereby said roll is pivoted to said member on a vertical axis oiiset relatively to the point of contact of said roll with said blank so that it may swivel relatively to said member in the manner of a caster, said roll being secured for movement with said member in a vertical direction as the thickness of the blank varies, and means for guiding said member in a path to maintain the swivel axis perpendicular to the plane of the blank whereby to give the true measurement of said blank regardless of the angular position assumed by said offset roll relatively to said member.

10. In a machine of the class described in which a blank is movable therethrough in a horizontal plane, a measuring arm, a measuring lever pivoted to said arm for movement in a vertical plane, a guide lever also pivoted to said arm for movement in a vertical plane, a member pivoted to said guide lever and to said measuring lever and in such relation that it is always-maintained in fixed angular relation to the blank by said levers, a measuring roll adapted to contact a blank to be measured, means mounting said measuring roll for pivotal movement on said member on an axis maintained through said levers perpendicular to the plane of the moving blank, said axis being offset relatively to the point of contact of the roll relatively to the blank, and means whereby said roll and members are movable together upon variation of the thickness of said blank to operate said measuring lever.

11. In a machine of the class described in which a blank is movable therethrough in a horizontal plane, a measuring arm, ameasuring lever pivoted to said arm for movement in a vertical plane, a guide lever also pivoted to said arm for movement in a vertical plane, a member pivoted to said guide lever and to said measuring lever and in such relation that it is always maintained in fixed angular relation to the blank by said levers, a measuring roll adapted to contact a blank to be measured, means mounting said measuring roll for pivotal movement on said member on an axis maintained through said levers perpendicular to the plane of the moving blank, said axis being offset relatively to the point of contact of the roll relatively to the blank, means whereby said roll and member are movable together upon variation of the thickness of said blank to operate said measuring lever, and a spring for maintaining said roll and member against the blank.

12. In a machine of the class described in which a blank is movable therethrough in a horizontal plane, a measuring arm, a measuring lever pivoted to said'arm for movement in a vertical plane, a guide lever also pivoted to said arm for movement in a vertical plane, a member pivoted to said guide lever and to said measuring lever and in such reiation that it is always maintained in fixed angular relation to the blank by said levers, a measuring roll adapted to contact a blank to be measured, means mounting said measuring roll for pivotal movement on said member on an axis maintained through said levers perpendicular to the plane of the moving blank, said axis being offset relatively to the point of contact of the roll relatively to the blank, said roll and member being movable. together upon variation of the thickness of said blank to operate said measuring lever, and means for swinging said arm in response to the contour of the blank whereby to swivel said roll in the manner of a caster to follow the edge contour of the blank.

13. In a machine of the class described, measuring arms, measuring rolls mounted for vertical measuring movement relatively to said arms and adapted to receive measuring movement when contacted by a moving blank, means mounting said rolls whereby they may follow the edge contour of the moving blank with substantially the same predetermined portions of the rolls contacting the edge of the blank, and means mounting said rolls so that they may tilt on an axis transverse to their axis of rotation and with the vertical orientation of said predetermined portions remaining unchanged regardless of tilting, whereby to follow any surface irregularities of the blank edge.

14. In the combination of claim 7, means mounting said rolls for tilting movement on an axis transverse to their axisof rotation so that they may take inclined positions conforming to irregularities in the blank edges.

15.1n the combination of claim 7, means positioning said rolls so that their exact center coincides with the edge of the moving blank, and means for mounting said rolls for tilting movement on an axis transverse to their axis of rotation so that they may take inclined positions conforming to irregularities in the blank edges,

16. In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls mounted for vertical movement and adapted to have measuring movement transmit: ted to them by a moving blank, contro1 means positioned in advance of said rolls and adapted to be operated by said moving blank, and means operated by said control means ,to elevate said rolls topermit the blank to enter under them.

" 17;In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls mounted for measuring movement and adapted to have measuring movement transmitted to them when contacting a relatively moving blank of varying thickness, and means in advance of said rolls actuated by contact with the relatively moving blank for elevating the rolls to permit the'blank to enter under the elevated rolls for measurement by said rolls.

18. In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls mounted for measuring movement and adapted-tohave measuring movement transmitted to them when contacting a relatively moving blank of varying thickness, measuring means operated by said rolls, blank contacting 'means positioned in advance of said measuring rolls, said contacting means being movable by said blank, and means operable by said contact means for moving said measuring means and for lifting the measuring rolls through said measuring means to permit entry of the blank under said rolls.- a

19. In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls mounted for measuring movement and adapted. to have measuring movement transmitted to them when contacting a relatively mov- ..ing blank of varying thickness, a blank contacting roll positioned in advance of said measuring roll and adapted to be lifted by the blank, a lever member and a supporting means for said roll secured to-s'aid lever for lifting the same, and means operable by said lever for lifting said measuring rolls a distance proportional to the lifting of said contacting rolls whereby to facilitate entry of the blank under the rolls 20. In a machine of the class described, measiuring rolls'mounted for measuring movement and adapted to have measuring movement transmitted to them when contacting a relatively movingblank of varying thickness, and means in advance of said rolls-actuated by contact with'the 1 relatively moving blank for elevating the rolls to permit theblank to enter under the elevated rolls for measurement by said rolls, and means stationed beyond saidmeas'uring rolls actuatedby said blank to permit the rolls to drop onto the movingblank. 5 21. In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls mounted for measuring movement -and adapted to' have measuring movement transmittedto them when contacting a relatively movingiiblank o'fvaryin'g thickness, measuring-means .operated' by said rolls, blank contacting means positioned in advance of said measuring rolls, said contacting means being movable by said *blank, andmeans'operable by said contact means .for moving said measuring means and for liftring the measuring rolls through said measuring means to permit entry of the blank under said rolls, and a blank contacting means stationed 'just. beyond the. measuring rolls for releasing ,the measuring rolls whereby they may drop on the moving blank.

22. In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls mounted for measuring movement and adapted to have measuring movement transmitted to them by a moving blank, control means stationed in advance of said rolls and control means stationed just beyond said rolls and adapted to be operated by the moving blank, means operated by said advance control means to elevate said rolls to permit the blank to enter under the rolls, and means operated by the second control means for dropping said rolls on to .the blank.

v 23. In' the combination of claim 1, means 'for locking said measuring rolls against substantial swivelling movement until after they have contacted the moving blank.

24. In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls adapted to contact a blank to be gauged, means mounting said rolls' so that they may move vertically as the thickness of the blank varies, measuring or indicating mechanism operated by said vertical movement, means mounting said rolls for free swiveling movement while moving vertically whereby they may be guided relatively to the edge contour of the blank, and

means operable by a relatively moving blank for locking the measuring rolls against swivelling movement until after they are positioned over the said moving blank.

25. In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls adapted to contact a blank to be gauged, means mounting said rolls so that they may move vertically as the thickness of the blank varies, measuring or indicating mechanism 0perated by said vertical movement, means mounting said rolls for free swivelling movement while moving vertically whereby they may be guided relatively to the edge contour of the blank, blank contacting means positioned in advance of said measuring rolls, said contacting means being operable by a moving blank for effecting the looking of said measuring rolls against substantial swivelling movement until after the blank is positioned under'the rolls.

26; In a machine of theclass described, measuring' rolls adapted to contact a blank to be gauged, means mounting said rolls so that they may move vertically as the thickness of theblank varies, measuring or indicating mechanism operated by said vertical movement, means mounting said rolls for free swivelling movement while moving vertically whereby they may be guided relativelyto the edge contour of the blank, blank contacting'm'eans positioned in advance of said measuring rolls, said contacting means being op- .erablerby a moving blank for effecting-the locking of said measuring rolls against substantial swivelunder' the rolls, and a blank contacting means ling movement until after the blank is positioned v positioned beyond the rolls and operable to re- "lease the rolls when contacted by the blank.

I 27. In the combination of claim '7, means for locking said measuringrolls against substantial swivelling movement until after they have contacted the moving blank, control means positioned in advance of said measuring rolls and control means positioned just beyond said measuring rolls and adapted to be operated by the moving blank, means operated by said advance control .means to operate said roll locking means and to elevate said rolls to permit the blank to enter under the rolls, and means operated by the second control means to release said rolls for swivelling and to drop them on to the blank.

28. In a machine of theclass described, measuring rolls adapted to contact a blank to be gauged, means mounting said rolls so that they may move vertically as the thickness of the blank varies, measuring or indicating mechanism operated by said vertical movement, means mounting said rolls for free swivelling movement while moving vertically whereby they may be guided relatively to the edge contour of the blank, control means positioned just in advance of said measuring rolls, control means positioned just beyondsaid measuring rolls, said control means able by said advance control means when contacted for locking said rolls against swivelling and elevating said measuring rolls so as to permit the blank to enter under the rolls, and means operable by said second control means for releasing the rolls for swivelling and for dropping them onto the blank.

29. In a machine of the class described, thickness measuring rolls, an indicator operable by said measuring rolls as said rolls contact a moving blank, pawl and ratchet mechanism for preventing movement of said indicator in a direction indicating greater thickness once a particular indication has been transmitted to said indicator, and control means physically contacted by said blank Ln its movement through the machine for moving said pawl and ratchet into cooperative engagement and adapted to move said pawl and ratchet out of engagement as said blank passes out of physical contact with said control means.

30. In a machine of the class described, a measuring roll, an indicator movable by said roll as said roll contacts a relatively movable blank, pawl and ratchet mechanism for preventing movement of said indicator in a direction indicating greater thickness, a gate positioned just in advance of said measuring roll, a blank contacting device positioned just beyond the measuring roll, a lever carrying the pawl of said pawl and ratchet mechanism and connected with said gate, and

means for moving said lever into pawl and ratchet engaging position and gate lowering position upon operation of said blank contacting device by a blank, and for releasing the pawl and ratchet and raising the gate upon movement of the blank beyond said device.

31. In a machine of the class described, thickness measuring rolls, an indicator operable by said measuring rolls as said rolls contact a moving blank, pawl and ratchet mechanism for preventing movement of said indicator in a direction indicating greater thickness once a particular indication has been transmitted to said indicator, a gate adapted to prevent entrance of a blank into the machine, and control means physically contacted by said blank in its movement through the machine for simultaneously moving said pawl and ratchet into cooperative engagement, and said gate into entrance blocking position, and adapted to move said pawl and. ratchet out of engagement and said gate out of blocking position as said blank passes out of physical. contact with said control means.

32. In a machine of the class described, thickness measuring rolls, an indicator, means whereby indicator is movable positively by movement of said rolls in a thinness indicating direction, a spring adapted to press said indicator in a thickness indicatin direction so as to follow the movement of said rolls in a thickness indicating direction, pawl and ratchet mechanism for preventing movement of said indicator in a direction indicating greater thickness once a particular indication has been transmitted to said indicator while permitting movement of said indicator in a thinness indicating direction, and means for relieving the tension of said spring operable at a predetermined point in the operation of the machine whereby to relieve the inertia of said indicator against movement in a t ners indicating direction.

33. In a machine of the class described, thickness measuring rolls, an indicator operable by said rolls, means for locking said indicator in a final indicating position, control means for said locking means operable by a moving blank, said control means being operable into indicator locking position when left behind by a moving blank, said means being Operable into indicator releasing position when contacted by a moving blank and adapted to remain in releasing position while in said blank contacting position.

34. In a machine of the class described, a gate for controlling the admission of a moving blank, sole measuring rolls positioned beyond said gate, an indicator operated by said measuring rolls, detent means for locking said indicator against movement in a thickness measuring direction, a final locking detent means for locking said indicator against movement in a thinness measuring direction, a series of moving blank operated control devices operated by a blank moving through machine, one of said devices being adapted to move the gate and thickness locking detent in and out of blocking and locking position respectively, and a second one of said devices being operable to move the final locking detent in and out of locking position.

35. In a machine of the class described, a moving blank centering assembly comprising a guiding member, a spring pressed member adapted to press the moving blank against said guiding member so as to guide the blank into the machine, a pair of feed rolls into which the blank is fed as determined by said guiding member, and means whereby said guiding member may be moved to one side once said blank is grasped and fed by said feed rolls.

36. In a machine of the class described, a moving blank centering assembly comprising a guide member spring pressed by a relatively heavy spring into a predetermined position, a spring pressed member adapted to press the moving blank against said guide, a pair of feed rolls into which the blank is fed and adapted to permit,

of no side movement of the blank after grasping the same, said guide member and said spring pressed member being movable to one side as required by the blank once it is securely positioned in readily reversible as a unit for use with right and left foot soles.

37. In a machine of the class described, a pair of swinging measuring arms, measuring rolls carried by said arms, means secured to said arms for swinging them so as to follow the periphery of a moving blank to be measured, a control device positioned just ahead of said arms and adapted to be first contacted by said moving blank, and means actuated by said device when contacted by the blank for swinging said arms apart to permit the movement therebetween of a square end blank itself ineffective to cam the arms apart.

38. In a machine of the class described, a measuring arm mounted for swinging movement to follow the edge contour of a blank to be measured,

means in contact with the edge of the blank of measuring arms mounted for swinging movement to follow the contour of a blank and norsaid feed rolls, said assembly being,

mally maintained in a central position, and 75,

meansi-n .the'mahine' operated by contact with the blank:at':a*predetermined time in the cycle of the fmachine for. swinging; said arms apart from said central 'position to permit the entry of the 5* blank between-the arms.

tionand adapted to press against the edges of a blank entered between the arms so as to follow lfj the blank contour, blank contacting means positioned' in advance of said arms, said contacting means being operable by a moving blank for swinging said arms aside to permit the entry of-I'the blank between them.

41. In a machine of the class described, a pair of measuring' 'arms pressed into a neutral position and adapted to press against the edges of a blank entered between them so as to follow the; blank contour, blank contacting means positioned in advance of said arms, means operable by said blank contacting means when contacted by the blank for swinging said arms aside to permit entry of the blank between the arms, and a blank contacting means positioned beyond the arms and operable when contacted by the blank to effect swinging of the arms into contact with the blank.

42. In a machine of the class described, a feed plate, a guide member, a spring adapted to maintain said guide member in a predetermined position, a second guide member, a spring of considerably less power than said first spring pressing said second guide member in a manner urging a blank against said first guide member whereby to position said blank for feeding into the machine, said plate being reversible to adapt itself to right and left foot soles.

43. In a machine of the class described, a feed plate, a guide member, a spring adapted to main tain said guide member in a predetermined position, a spring pressed member for urging a blank against said guide member to position said blank for feeding into the machine, the spring pressing said member beingof substantially less strength than said first spring, said guide member and said spring pressed member being both arranged for swinging to one side as the sole is gripped and fed into the machine.

44. In a machine of the class described, a pair of measuring levers, means mounting said levers for vertical measuring movement and for horizontal swinging movement, measuring rolls adapted to contact a moving blank to be measured and connected to said levers for moving the same, means whereby each of said rolls may swivel on a vertical axis relatively to said levers with said axis offset relatively to -the point of contact of said rolls with said blank, means for swinging said levers as the contour of the blank changes, said horizontal swinging movement being effective to cause swivelling of the measuring rolls on their axes so that said rolls may follow the contour of the blank.

45. In a machine of the class described, a measuring roll adapted to contact a blank to be measured, a supporting member on which said roll is pivoted for swivelling movement in response to the blank contour on an axis offset from the point of contact of the roll relatively to the blank, a spring urging said roll into a particular rotated position relatively to its supporting means, and against the pressure of which it is adapted to swivel in response to the blank contour.

46. In a machine of the class described, a

measuring roll-adapted to. contact a :blank .to be measured, a" supporting-I. member. on which said roll is pivoted for swivelling movement-onan axis. ofiset from-the point-of contact of. theroll relatively to the blank, aspring urging said rollinto a particular rotated position relatively to its supporting means, and against the pressure of which it swivels, a further spring'urging .said supporting member. against. the blank being measured, and"a'guide foot on said supporting mem- .ber adapted to impinge against .the blank to" guide said member.

47.111 a machine of the class described, a measuring rolladapted to contact a blank to be measured, meansmounting said roll for verticalvertical axis whereby toadjust said rollrforiblank contour. following movement, a stationary plate over which said blank passes, said plate being mounted so as to underly said roll in every position thereof while it is swivelling relatively to said plate.

as. In a machine of the class described, a horizontally swinging arm, a guide carried by said arm and adapted to engage a blank for swinging the armas the contour of the blank changes, a measuring roll carried by said swinging arm and movable therewith, said roll and guide being so related that when the guide is in contact with the blank for guiding the arm, the measuring roll is positioned at the edge of the blank, means mounting said roll for bodily swivelling movement relatively to said arm in the manner of a caster on an axis ofiset relatively to the point of contact of said roll with said blank,

whereby said roll is positioned continuously by arm and adapted to engage a blank for swinging the arm as the contour of the blank changes, a measuring roll carried by said swinging arm and movable therewith, said roll and guide being so related that when the guide is in contact with the blank for guiding the arm, the measuring roll is positioned with its midpoint substantially on the edge of the blank, means mounting said roll for bodily swivelling movement relatively to said arm in the manner of a caster on an axis ofiset relatively to the point of contact of said roll with said blank, whereby said roll is, positioned continuously by its contact with the blank and the swinging of the arm to ride along the edge of the blank regardless of the changes in the contour of the blank.

50. In a machine of the class described, a horizontally swinging arm, a guide carried by said arm and adapted to engage a blank for swinging the arm as the contour of the blank changes, a measuring roll carried by said swinging arm and movable therewith, said roll and guide being so related that when the guide is in contact with the blank for guiding the arm, the measuring roll is positioned with its midpoint substantially on the edge of the blank, means mounting said roll for bodily swivelling movement relatively to said arm in the manner of a caster'on an'axis offset relatively to the point of contact of said roll with said blank, whereby said roll is positioned continuously by. its contact with the blank and the swinging of the arm to ride along the edge of the blank regardless of changes in contour of the blank, and means mountingsaid roll also for tilting movement whereby it. may follow angular irregularities of the edge of the blank.

' 51. In a machine of the class described, a swinging arm, a thickness measuring roll carried by said swinging arm and adapted to contact a blank to be measured and to move in conformity with the thickness of the blank, means mounting said roll on said swinging arm in an offset axis relatively to its point of contact with the blank and in the manner of a caster for. bodily swivelling blank contour following movement, means whereby said arm swings in accordance with the changes in the contour of the blank to be measured and moves the measuring roll therewith,

a plate over which said blank passes, said plate being mounted so as to underlie said roll. in every position. thereof while it is swivelling relatively to said plate, incidental to its actuation. by a moving blank and the swinging, movement of saidarm.

52. In a machine of the class described, measuring rolls mounted for measuring movement and adapted to have measuring movement transmitted to them when. contacting a relatively moving blank of varying thickness, said rolls 1ying normally in a minimum thickness position, means operated by the relatively moving blank for elevating the rolls to permit the blank to enter freely under the rolls for measurement by said rolls, and means contacted by the said blank thereafter for releasing said rolls to drop on to said. blank.

NATHAN BRE'IHOLTZ. 

